Joel

The LORD Judges the Nations

1“Yes, in those days and at that time,when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity,

2I will gather all the nationsand bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.There I will enter into judgment against themconcerning My people, My inheritance, Israel,whom they have scattered among the nationsas they divided up My land.

3They cast lots for My people;they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.

4Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads.

5For you took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your temples.

6You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,to send them far from their homeland.

7Behold, I will rouse them from the places to which you sold them; I will return your recompense upon your heads.

8I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans—to a distant nation.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken.

9Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war;rouse the mighty men;let all the men of waradvance and attack!

10Beat your plowshares into swordsand your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’

11Come quickly, all you surrounding nations,and gather yourselves.Bring down Your mighty ones,O LORD.

12Let the nations be rousedand advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat,for there I will sit downto judge all the nations on every side.

13Swing the sickle,for the harvest is ripe.Come, trample the grapes,for the winepress is full;the wine vats overflowbecause their wickedness is great.

14Multitudes, multitudesin the valley of decision!For the Day of the LORD is nearin the valley of decision.

15The sun and moon will grow dark,and the stars will no longer shine.

16The LORD will roar from Zionand raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble.But the LORD will be a refuge for His people,a stronghold for the people of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

17Then you will know that I am the LORD your God,who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain.Jerusalem will be holy,never again to be overrun by foreigners.

18And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine,and the hills will flow with milk.All the streams of Judah will run with water,and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD to water the Valley of Acacias.

19Egypt will become desolate,and Edom a desert wasteland,because of the violence done to the people of Judah,in whose land they shed innocent blood.

20But Judah will be inhabited forever,and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

21For I will avenge their blood,which I have not yet avenged.”For the LORD dwells in Zion.

1“For, behold, in those days,and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

2I will gather all nations,and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my people, and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land,

3and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.

4“Yes, and what are you to me, Tyre and Sidon,and all the regions of Philistia?Will you repay me?And if you repay me, I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head.

5Because you have taken my silver and my gold,and have carried my finest treasures into your temples,

6and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the sons of the Greeks, that you may remove them far from their border.

7Behold, I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them,and will return your repayment on your own head;

8and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah,and they will sell them to the men of Sheba, to a faraway nation, for the LORD has spoken it.”

9Proclaim this among the nations:“Prepare for war! Stir up the mighty men.Let all the warriors draw near.Let them come up.

10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’

11Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations,and gather yourselves together.”Cause your mighty ones to come down there, LORD.

12“Let the nations arouse themselves,and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

13Put in the sickle;for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.”

14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

15The sun and the moon are darkened,and the stars withdraw their shining.

16The LORD will roar from Zion,and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but the LORD will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.

17“So you will know that I am the LORD, your God,dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain.Then Jerusalem will be holy,and no strangers will pass through her any more.

18It will happen in that day,that the mountains will drop down sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters; and a fountain will flow out from the LORD’s house, and will water the valley of Shittim.

19Egypt will be a desolationand Edom will be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

20But Judah will be inhabited forever,and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

21I will cleanse their bloodthat I have not cleansed, for the LORD dwells in Zion.”